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03-08-2014, 07:36 AM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Starting this thread with my project in progress. I bought this 1996 Ford E-Super Duty MetroTrans shuttle bus with a 460 gas engine to convert into a hauler for my Cobra replica. Took quite a while to find on the right length. Most were too short or too long. This one gave me enough room between the car and the drivers seat to haul luggage, etc. I knew that the floor framing was too weak to support a car, so I needed to beef things up. What I came up with was to gut the bus down to the floor framing and fabricate a new framework on top and tieing in to the original, basically making it a 6" raised platform where the car sits. To help the entrance angle, I sloped the floor from the rear edge of the wheelwells down to the rear bumper and sectioned about 1 1/2" out of the wheelwell height. I used 6" x 2" x 3/16" tubing for the cross pieces and 4" x 2" and 2" x 2" tubing for the rest of the framework. Then covered with 3/4" Marine Grade plywood. I will attempt to attach some pictures.
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03-08-2014, 07:53 AM
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#2
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Lets see if this works.
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03-08-2014, 07:59 AM
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#3
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Still have to cut out the back and build larger doors, but I'm trying to get everything else done before I tackle that. Found a great place to buy Aluminum Ramps. Discount Ramps can build just about any kind of ramp you want and at a reasonable price.
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03-08-2014, 08:08 AM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
A couple more:
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03-08-2014, 09:31 AM
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#5
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Welcome.
Cool project. I always love seeing skoolies turned into toy haulers.
Looking forward to more pics.
Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."
Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
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03-08-2014, 10:14 AM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Moodus, Ct.
Posts: 1,062
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Champion
Chassis: Ford e-450
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 14
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Tip of the hat to you sir! This is what I did for years--using a cube van. My (small) race car fit in the back leaving just enough room for a small area that benches converted to a bed. I had the back of the floor "beaver tailed" going up to wheelwell height-and flat forward from there.
I was really really close to doing the same with my short bus--but mama won out-before it was 10 ft car space-5 ft living area- now its 11ft living+ 5 ft shop space-car in a trailer. (And I hate trailers. ) I love the flip up door-always wanted to do that.
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03-09-2014, 06:39 AM
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#7
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
This week I mounted a couple of seats for use when the Cobra isn't being hauled around. One can stay, but the other has to be unbolted for room for the car. Wired up the winch, installed the backup camera, sealed around the windows, and cleaned up a lot of "jury-rigging" done over the years. Pictures to follow.
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03-09-2014, 12:24 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Quote:
Originally Posted by davidshelton
This week I mounted a couple of seats for use when the Cobra isn't being hauled around. One can stay, but the other has to be unbolted for room for the car. Wired up the winch, installed the backup camera, sealed around the windows, and cleaned up a lot of "jury-rigging" done over the years. Pictures to follow.
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Any thoughts of use a quick release like in a Dodge caravan, or a Chevy astro van?
Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."
Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
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03-09-2014, 05:11 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Just 4 bolts and I welded plates with nuts on the bottom side to make things easier. The seats close to the winch can stay. A few more pictures.
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03-09-2014, 05:14 PM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
2 more. Teflon wear strip on the floor so the winch cable has something to ride on.
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03-10-2014, 05:13 PM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Lookin' Good! And is the Cobra an original or replicant...and for show or go? Bad ass either way. Had a California Navy buddy who bought one of the very first 427's from Carol Shelby in '65 or '66. To this day, I'd still have to rate it as one the most brutal production cars ever. Sadly, it only lasted about 6 months before he totaled it. He walked away but that car would be worth a small fortune today.
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03-10-2014, 09:09 PM
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#12
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
The Cobra is a replica. After over 10 years on the road, is is a driver and not a showcar. Plenty of rock chips and scratches to show its use.
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03-10-2014, 11:31 PM
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#13
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Like I said...either way it is bad ass...and sweet to boot. Gotta be a fun ride.
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03-11-2014, 09:45 PM
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#14
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Got my insurance card today, so my wife and I went on a bus shakedown cruise this evening. Very easy to handle. Drives very good, very happy with the new trans valve body and the firm shifts. The E-code halogen headlights work very well and the sound system is a little better for the 60s and 70s rock. (still needs some tweaking) Maybe I will drive it to work in the morning. Cruise control doesn't work. A/C compressor is a little noisy. Will change belt and look at idlers also.
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03-18-2014, 09:00 PM
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#15
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
I think I have an idea for the rear door that will work. I am going to retain the rear swing-up door and add side pieces to it to cover the wider opening I cut out and frame up. This whole idea depended on my re-engineering of the gas shock setup and I must say it was a success. I moved the pivot point up 7" at the door opening so it would be higher than the cobra windshield, and moved the mounting point on the door closer to the hinge so I could use a shorter, but stronger gas spring. It was a wild guess, but I went with a couple of 175# springs instead of the 150# longer springs originally on the door. Also removed the inside trim panel (about 35#) to lighten things a little more. With the new setup, it's a little stiff, but should give me plenty of capacity to add the weight of the side panels. So far the only drawback is the door raises about 8" higher than if did before, so I will have to add a strap that hangs down for me to reach.
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03-18-2014, 09:12 PM
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#16
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
Many of the Ford E-vans had bad brake pressure switches that would prevent the cruise control from working. Mine was toast.
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03-18-2014, 09:16 PM
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#17
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
While I have been doing all this thinking about the rear door, I have been taking care of a lot of details. Replaced the cruise control switches, got all the speakers working, installed 12v power plugs at all seating positions. Next is replace belts, one tensioner pulley, hoses, and rear differential lube. Trying to get this thing as reliable as possible. Bought a cruise brake pressure switch also so I will get around to changing that too.
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03-23-2014, 07:43 AM
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#18
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
I decided Saturday was the day to get out the saw and cut out the rear for the modified door. Did the layout several times to get the right "look" and to get the opening centered up (the door was installed 1/4" offset to the right at the factory). Added angle bracing inside and tubing around the opening to stiffen things up. Still have to fab and add the side pieces on the door and also parts for the door to seal against. Found some Bargman taillights that are narrow enough to work without installing them on the door.
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03-24-2014, 09:53 PM
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#19
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
I got to thinking. I better make sure the Cobra will go through the opening before I do anything else. IT FITS!!!!
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03-24-2014, 09:54 PM
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#20
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 60
Year: 1996
Coachwork: MertoTrans
Chassis: Ford E-SuperDuty
Engine: 460 Ford
Rated Cap: 4
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Re: My 1996 E-Super Duty MetroTrans
One more.
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